Liquid supercooling system

ABSTRACT

A liquid supercooling system may include a suction pipe that has a spiral groove around the outer circumference thereof and connects an evaporator with a compressor, a liquid pipe that connects a condenser with an expansion pipe, a heat exchange pipe in which the suction pipe is inserted and of which one end is connected with the liquid pipe such that heat can be exchanged between the suction pipe and the liquid pipe, and a connection block, of which one side is connected to the liquid pipe and of which the other side is connected to the suction pipe and the heat exchange pipe.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0116824, filed on Nov. 30, 2009, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cooling system, in more detail, a liquid supercooling system for improving efficiency of an air condition system, NVH (“noise, vibration, and harshness”) performance, and a manufacturing process.

2. Description of Related Art

In general, a heater or an air conditioner operates in vehicles to adjust the temperature therein.

Since the heater for increasing low temperature, such as in winter, heats air by using the heat generated by an engine, it is easy to use and consumes a small amount of fuel.

However, since the air conditioner for reducing temperature, such as in summer, needs to transfer heat opposite to the natural heat flow from the high-temperature outside of a vehicle to the low-temperature inside of the vehicle, it needs a specific structure and consumes a large amount of fuel.

The cooling system shown in FIG. 1A is used for the air conditioner and uses heat of vaporization that is generated when liquid evaporates, taking heat from the ambient air, such as a freezer or a refrigerator. Further, it uses liquid that is easy to evaporate even at low temperature as a coolant, and usually uses a freon gas.

According to the basic structure of the cooling system, an electric motor and a compressor are directly connected in a sealed metal container, and as the electric motor rotates the compressor, a coolant is compressed.

The compressed coolant passes through a condenser that is formed by attaching aluminum pins to the surface of a copper pipe, and the condenser cools the coolant to liquefy by emanating the heat of the coolant into the air.

The high-temperature and high-pressure liquid coolant that has passed through the condenser passes through an expansion valve, in which the high-temperature and high-pressure liquid coolant delivered from the condenser decreases in pressure and temperature while passing through the expansion valve, which is a partially open pipe or a capillary tube, without relating to work.

The coolant that has passed through the expansion valve flows into an evaporator, which is usually formed of a thin copper pipe, having substantially the same structure. The compressed coolant takes the ambient heat while evaporating through the evaporator. Therefore, the air contacting the surface of the evaporator decreases in temperature and the moisture in the air changes into droplets on the surface of the evaporator and is then removed.

The supercooling system shown in FIG. 1B has been used to increase efficiency of the general cooling system. The supercooling system is used to increase the supercooled degree, using heat exchange generated while a coolant flows through each device, in which a suction pipe 1 through which a low-temperature and low-pressure gas coolant flows from an evaporator to a compressor and a liquid pipe 2 through which a high-temperature and high-pressure liquid coolant flows from a condenser to an expansion valve, are disposed close to a heat exchange pipe 3, such that heat is exchanged between the low-temperature gas coolant and the high-temperature liquid coolant.

Accordingly, it is possible to improve the performance and efficiency (COP) of an air conditioner system, use a compressor having small capacity by reducing the power consumed by the compressor by about 14%, and improve the total fuel efficiency of a vehicle by about 1% or more.

However, as shown in FIG. 2, since the liquid pipe 2 is connected with the heat exchange pipe 3 in a T-shape, not only a T-shape extraction process is required, but vibration and noise are generated because the channel for the coolant passing through the liquid pipe 2 rapidly changes.

Further, in the joint of the suction pipe 1, the liquid pipe 2, and the heat exchange pipe 3, there is a space opposite to the flow direction of the coolant, such that backward flow and vortex are generated, which causes pressure loss of the coolant, vibration, and noise.

In addition, cost is higher in the manufacturing process of the supercooling system because it is required to expand and reduce the pipes to connect the liquid pipe 2 after machining the heat exchange pipe 3, and pressure loss of the coolant and vortex are generated by the shape of the coolant inlet.

The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various aspects of the present invention are directed to provide a liquid supercooling system that improves system performance by improving the connection structure between pipes and preventing pressure loss of a coolant, improves NVH performance by preventing vortex and backward flow of the coolant, and reduces the manufacturing cost with improved efficiency by simplifying the manufacturing process.

In an aspect of the present invention, the liquid supercooling system may include a suction pipe that has a spiral groove around the outer circumference thereof and connects an evaporator with a compressor, a liquid pipe that connects a condenser with an expansion pipe, a heat exchange pipe in which the suction pipe is inserted and of which one end is connected with the liquid pipe such that heat can be exchanged between the suction pipe and the liquid pipe, and a connection block, of which one side is connected to the liquid pipe and of which the other side is connected to the suction pipe and the heat exchange pipe.

The suction pipe and the heat exchange pipe may be disposed in the same line and the liquid pipe is coupled to the connection block in parallel with the suction pipe

A channel through which coolant flows from the liquid pipe and an internal space connected to the channel may be formed in advance in the connection block, the suction pipe and the heat exchange pipe being connected to the internal space.

The channel in the connection block may be formed to surround the suction pipe and communicate with the spiral groove of the suction groove.

The suction pipe and the heat exchange pipe may be disposed through the internal space in the same line and the liquid pipe is coupled to the channel in the connection block in parallel with the suction pipe.

The channel may be formed in a curve shape.

A portion of the internal space may have a relatively large diameter and receives the heat exchange pipe therein, such that the coolant flows inside the internal space while covering and rotating along the spiral groove of the suction pipe.

According to the present invention having the above configuration, since a coolant flows through the smooth curved channel, instead of T-shaped rapid curved channel, it is possible to prevent backward flow and vortex of the coolant while minimizing pressure loss when the coolant flows inside, such that it is possible to improve efficiency of an air condition system and NVH performance by reducing vibration and noise.

Further, since the pipes are connected by the connection blocks formed in advance, it is possible to reduce manufacturing cost of the pipes, reduce machining processes of the pipes and manufacturing time, thereby reducing manufacturing cost of a vehicle.

The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description of the Invention, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic view showing a cooling system used in the related art.

FIG. 1B is a schematic view showing a supercooling system.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view and a partially enlarged view of a supercooling system used in the related art.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view and a partially enlarged view of An exemplary liquid supercooling system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of manufacturing a supercooling system used in the related art.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of manufacturing an exemplary liquid supercooling system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing noise measured in a supercooling system used in the related art.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing noise measured in an exemplary liquid supercooling system according to the present invention.

It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment.

In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that present description is not intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

The present invention is described hereafter in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view and a partial enlarged view of a liquid supercooling system 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The liquid supercooling system 100 of the present invention includes: a suction pipe 10 that has a spiral groove around the outer circumference and connects an evaporator with a compressor; a liquid pipe 20 that connects a condenser with an expansion pipe; a heat exchange pipe 30 in which the suction pipe 10 is inserted and of which one end is connected with the liquid pipe 20 such that heat can be exchanged between the suction pipe 10 and the liquid pipe 20; and a connection block 40 of which one side is connected to the liquid pipe 20 and the other side is connected to the suction pipe 10 and the heat exchange pipe 30.

The present invention is applied to a supercooling system that allows for heat exchange between pipes that connect devices and through which a coolant flows, on the basis of the existing cooling systems that reduce the ambient temperature using a coolant.

In particular, in connecting the suction pipe 10, the liquid pipe 20, and the heat exchange pipe 30, the pipes are connected not directly by welding, but by the connection block 40.

The connection block 40 preferably has a predetermined thickness such that it can accommodate the pipes and can be made of various metallic materials and plastic materials to keep a predetermined rigidity. Further, it is more preferable that the portions connected to the pipes are sealed to prevent the coolant from leaking.

The connection block 40 may be formed in various shapes, such as a rectangular parallelepiped, a cylinder, and a sphere, as long as it can accommodates the pipes and disposed in a vehicle, and a rectangular parallelepiped was exemplified in the present invention.

The suction pipe 10 and the heat exchange pipe 30 pass through the connection block 40 and the suction pipe 10 with the spiral groove around the outer circumference is inserted in the heat exchange pipe 30. In this structure, a predetermined gap is defined between the spiral groove and the inner side of the heat exchange pipe 30, such that the coolant can flow along the outer side of the suction pipe 10 while spirally rotating. Therefore, as the surface area for heat exchange increases, quicker heat exchange is possible.

The liquid pipe 20 is connected to the spiral groove of the suction pipe 10 in the connection block 40 such that the coolant can flow through the space between the groove and the inner side of the heat exchange pipe 30. The coolant passes through a channel 41 formed in the connection block 40 in order to flow from the liquid pipe 20 to the heat exchange pipe 30 around the suction pipe 10, and the channel 41 is formed a smooth curve shape in the present invention.

That is, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 3, the suction pipe 10 and the heat exchange pipe 30 are disposed in the same line and the liquid pipe 20 is inserted in the connection block 40 in parallel with the suction pipe 10. Further, since the channel 41 through which the coolant flows into the suction pipe 10 and the heat exchange pipe 30 is formed in a smooth curve shape, it is possible to prevent that a coolant rapidly changes the flow direction due to the T-shaped connection in the related art, thereby minimizing pressure loss of the coolant flowing inside.

The liquid pipe 20 may be inserted in the connection block 40 in parallel with the suction pipe 10, as shown in FIG. 3, and it may be inserted in a T-shape as in the related art. However, when it is inserted in a T-shape, it is not directly connected to the suction pipe 10, but the channel 41 in the connection block 40 is formed to surround the suction pipe 10 to prevent rapid change of a channel for the coolant.

It is preferable to form in advance in the connection block 40 the channel 41 through which the coolant flows from the liquid pipe 20 and the internal space 42 where the suction pipe 10 and the heat exchange pipe 30 are connected in order to make manufacturing easy.

The suction pipe 10 and the heat exchange pipe 30 are connected in the internal space 42, in which a portion of the internal space 42 has a relatively large diameter in order for the coolant from the liquid pipe 20 to flows into the groove with smooth rotation, such that the coolant can flows inside while covering the pipe 10, thereby minimizing the vortex.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a process of manufacturing a supercooling system used in the related art and FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a process of manufacturing the liquid supercooling system 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In order to manufacture the supercooling system of the related art, a thread is formed on the outer surface of a suction pipe 1, tube expansion/tube compression and T-shape extraction processes are performed to connect a heat exchange pipe 3 with a liquid pipe 2, and then the pipes are connected. In this case, it is required to weld the suction pipe 1 and the heat exchange pipe 3 with a predetermined gap to connect and fix them and it is also required to weld the liquid pipe 2 and the heat exchange pipe 3 to fix the liquid pipe 2 to the heat exchange pipe 3, such that manufacturing process is complicated.

However, according to the liquid superheating system 100 of the present invention, since it only has to form the spiral groove on the outer side of the suction pipe 10 and connect the pipes to the connection block 40 after forming in advance the channel 41 and the internal space 42 in the connection block 40, tube expansion/tube compression and T-shape extraction processes are not required, such that it is possible to reduce the manufacturing time and cost, as compared with the manufacturing process of the related art. It has an effect of reducing about 100 won per unit.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing noise measured in a supercooling system used in the related art and FIG. 7 is a graph showing noise measured in the liquid supercooling system 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In the supercooling system of the related art, noise rapidly increased in a range of about 5 to 7 kHz, which was result from the vortex sound due to rapid channel change of a coolant when an air conditioner was used.

However, in the liquid supercooling system 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, since a coolant flows inside along the smooth curve and flows through the connection block 40 while smoothly rotating, the backward flow and vortex can be prevented, such that noise was significantly reduced in the range of about 5 to 7 kHz. Therefore, it is possible to improve NVH performance of a vehicle by improving the flow of a coolant.

That is, friction occurs with various pipes and pressure loss by the connection shape of pipes while a coolant flows through the pipes, pressure loss of 48 kPa occurs in the supercooling system of the related art, whereas pressure loss of 38 kPa occurs in the supercooling system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Accordingly, about 10 kPa pressure loss is reduced and performance of the air condition system is improved by about 1%, such that it is possible to improve the total fuel efficiency of a vehicle by about 0.5% even only by improving the connection structure of pipes.

For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms “inner” and “outer” are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures.

The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents. 

1. A liquid supercooling system comprising: a suction pipe that has a spiral groove around the outer circumference thereof and connects an evaporator with a compressor; a liquid pipe that connects a condenser with an expansion pipe; a heat exchange pipe in which the suction pipe is inserted and of which one end is connected with the liquid pipe such that heat can be exchanged between the suction pipe and the liquid pipe; and a connection block, of which one side is connected to the liquid pipe and of which the other side is connected to the suction pipe and the heat exchange pipe.
 2. The liquid supper cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the suction pipe and the heat exchange pipe are disposed in the same line and the liquid pipe is coupled to the connection block in parallel with the suction pipe
 3. The liquid supper cooling system according to claim 1, wherein a channel through which coolant flows from the liquid pipe and an internal space connected to the channel are formed in advance in the connection block, the suction pipe and the heat exchange pipe being connected to the internal space.
 4. The liquid supper cooling system according to claim 3, wherein the channel in the connection block is formed to surround the suction pipe and communicate with the spiral groove of the suction groove.
 5. The liquid supper cooling system according to claim 3, wherein the suction pipe and the heat exchange pipe are disposed through the internal space in the same line and the liquid pipe is coupled to the channel in the connection block in parallel with the suction pipe
 6. The liquid supper cooling system according to claim 3, wherein the channel is formed in a curve shape.
 7. The liquid supper cooling system according to claim 3, wherein a portion of the internal space has a relatively large diameter and receives the heat exchange pipe therein, such that the coolant flows inside the internal space while covering and rotating along the spiral groove of the suction pipe. 